Biting
Our 9 week old Cavapoo bites us all the time. She used to lick us but now she licks and bites. We don’t want her to lick us anymore bc we don’t know if she’ll bite. We’d love some tools to help stop this bad behavior or redirect it. We’ve tried giving her things she can bite on but she still bites us.
Laura Napier
That's a good idea too. Pups don't like when their owners shun them. It makes them realize that they did something wrong and encourages them to not do it again. My rottweiler hardly ever did anything wrong but when she did, just one time of saying NO and turning my back on her or not making eye contact was enough for her to not repeat the behavior. She was a really good dog.
Karen
Redirecting, saying "No" and time outs have worked well about 90% of the time. The only time they won't stop biting each other is late at night right before bed when they are overstimulated and tired. It only lasts for about 5 minutes and then they both pass out. Lol. At this point in the day, I am worn out too so I let it go. Will this be a problem in the future with other dogs? They are 12 weeks. We haven't had a puppy play date yet as they are not fully vaccinated.
Laura Napier
If offering something else to bite / chew isn't working, perhaps another behavior technique may work. Dogs are social creatures and they view their humans as part of their pack. As such, they should also recognize you as the pack leader. This requires unwavering leadership and behavior control. Dogs want our approval and attention. Continue to offer other items to chew but when she nips or bites, sternly say NO and walk away / turn your back, and don't even make eye contact. This reaction of disapproval should be enough to let the pup know that the pack leader is not happy with their behavior and you should start to see a change.